Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-03-31
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the figure sprang at me, with its arms out.
or course was not going TO stand any vic
leuce, author or no author, so pushed my
chair in between his legs and down he came,
such cropperi Meanwhile rushed out into
the passage, opened the door somehow, and
ran all the way here. And jolly glad am to
be out Of that house"
"But didn't you see him after allf' cried
80 yes,n answered Charlie, II just had .
glance as dropped my fusee, when he
rushed at me. But that glance was quite
enough. IL was like concentrated Bedlam.
"Well, describe him to us, Charlie" said
my husband, who seemed as much interested
as myself was.
"A tall, fat man, with fat face, beardless
and whiskerless. He had top hat on. His
hair was short aud like rats tails"
"John !" cried, horror-stricken; ''why,
that's Mrs. Mort.
"This Is a very serious matter" said my
husband. | hardly know what to think. We
must 60 round to Squire Dale the first thing
In the morning and tell him what we have
heard. He is magistrate and will know how
to act.
perhaps she has murdered him." ] cried,
and has him In the house. o John, how
horrble!n
"Don't Jump at conclusions like that, Mary"
said my husband. 81 don't know what TO
think, but am convinced the matter ought
to be investigated. Come, let us go TO bed.
We will speak to Dale In the morning"
did not close my eyes all that night, but
kept thinking Of that horrible woman and
fancying all kinds of dreadful things about
her and her house.
Immediately after breakfast next morning
we went round to the grange, Mr.. Dale.
when he heard Charles story, was most reso-
lutte. He decided to draw out a search war
rant, and TO enter the premises by force, II
necessary. When the village constable, whom
he sent for, had arrived, he set out with him
and my husband. Charlie was anxious to ac-
company them, but | felt SO nervous that in
sisted on his escorting me home. Mrs. Dale
was Ill at the time, so did not want to let her
know what bad happened
We waited at the vicarage with the greatest
impotence for Johns return. Charlie be-
haved horribly, and filed my head with the
most gruesome fances. / can not imagine
where he could have heard all the dreadful
stories he told me. He decided that Mrs.
Mort must have killed her husband, and that
the dead body was stuffed up the parlor chin
ney. At last. seeing how frightened / was,
he tried to calm Inc by Laughing at himself.
mo, Mary" said he; 'I've got 1t now.
The old lady keeps her husband chained up in
the back kitchen, on bread and water, and
only lets him out when he has finished book.
She finds that is the only way to make him
work"
l could not help smiling at this idea, but
nevertheless was mighty curious to hear what
my husband would have to tell. He returned
about noon, and we met him at the gate.
saw at once by his face that my silly fears
had been unfounded He laughed heartily,
as he glanced at my pale cheeks and scared
expression.
"Don't be frightened, little woman," he
said taking my arm. 'It's nothing so very
dreadful, after ALL We mad great work to get
into the house, and 1t was only when the
squire threatened to have the door broken
down that Mrs. Mort let US In. never saw a
woman look so furious. Mr.. Dale was very po-
lite, but said that as there were all kinds of
rumors anoat lie had felt it his duty to ask to
see Mr., Mort in person.
"'You can't; he's busy answered Mrs.
Mort.
"T am sorry to say said the squire, that l
must insist on disturbing him. There is a sus'
picion, ridiculous enough no doubt of foul
play on your part, Mrs. Mort. Kindly assist
me in clearing this matter up, for once and
ALL
"I can't; he's asleep. Call again. she
snarled.
"'You are prevaricating,' answered the
II he IN
BILE, attend TO this lady while we go upstairs.
Mrs. Mort threw herself on the ground be-
fore him, and clasping his knees, besought
him not to do so-not to wake her James, but
to call again.
"This, Of course only confirmed the magis'
trate's suspicious, and, handing the lady over
to the constable, who locked himself up with
her in the famous drawing-room he went up
| stairs accompanied by me.
The first room VIC came into was furnished
with a bed, table, and a chair. The table
was fitted with writing materials, and covered
with pages of manuscript. A pile of book:
was heaDed up in one corner. All the Other
rooms were quite empty, and. though we In
stituted a thorough search 10 all directions,
We were unable to discover any trace OF MIR,
Mort or of his mortal remains
At last VIC descended 70 the drawing room
We found Mrs Mort at the piano. She wal
playing the Dead March in saul" The con
stable tapped his head significantly as he Lei
us In.
~ ask you for the last time, Mrs. Mort,
said the squire very gravel, TO tell me whert
your husband is, or what has become of him
We have searched the house all over, and cal
find no trace Of him.
az tell you he's writing his Letters iron
Heaven" said the lady, without interruptint
her performance on the piano. He's out; yol
can't see him.
"'Constablc, arrest that woman cried Mr.
Dale. you must excuse me, madam, but
must do my duty. You will be kept in custo
dy on suspicion Of murder until We have foun'
your hu sbsnd, or until you have accounted 70
his absence In a satisfactory manner. Wilson
wait here until send my brougham round
You will come on In 1t 10 the grange. | al
anxious to avoid scandal
''Oh,' cried Mrs Mort, If it's as serious a
all that had better explain Morris death
"AhW said the squire. And when an
how"
NATURALLY enough, answered Mrs. Nor
He died of serious apoplexy in Paris 81
months ago. II you will look in the drawt
Of my writing table upstairs you will find til
acte de deces from the Paris register Office, Z
we'll as the French Doctors certificate
!, THE squire ran upstairs, and presently n
turned With the documents in his hand.
81 am glad TO see that we have been mi
taken he said, and am very sorry that til
should have occurred. But perhaps, MADAM
you will explain
80 shall explain nothing at ALL snarled u
lady. You have no right to ask me. don
blame you, but that young imp Of Satan WI
came here last night Chats you Charlie
And IL you have done bothering perhaI
you'll all get out Of the house,
"We retired considerably crcstfallen, b
a greatly relieved at the unexpected denou
b ment of what we had thought would turn O.
1 tragic affair. But Dale is firmly resolved
have the woman out Of the house In a week
time How he will manage it don't know
q But" ! cried, sit seems to me as mystic
e GUS as ever. Why should she conceal her hr
+ bands death, and make people believe lie W
still living with herr What motive can 81
r have hadf'
I Il fancy" answered my husband, ''thoug
s mind, it's mere superstition, that Mrs. Nc